tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30773170936649903522024-03-13T19:33:11.946-07:00SOMETHING NEW NOWABERANTE3 TVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03700086553281042099noreply@blogger.comBlogger1352125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3077317093664990352.post-75383349373122066942017-01-01T04:19:00.002-08:002017-01-01T04:19:54.824-08:00Married in School, Single at home in Ghana.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Thought of if you have noticed in almost every university in Ghana you would find a lot of 'undergraduate couples. That is the male and female students living as husbands and wives. You find a lot of this misguided people in virtually all schools, it is so bad that they are duly recognized and acknowledged as couples by fellow students, lodge mates, neighbors and even leaders of various students unions.<br />
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<li>The Guy takes responsibility of being a father and the girl being the mother.</li>
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<li>These students are very young who don’t understand the whole idea of being in a marriage.<a name='more'></a></li>
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<li>They enjoy everything, conjugal right is the song of the day from morning glory to evening.</li>
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<li>They will win awards like 'best couple of the year', 'most stylish couple of the year' etc., shamelessly and thoughtlessly if such was organized but they receive complements from their colleagues. </li>
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The rate at which girls live with their boyfriends in their various off campus hostels is painfully alarming. Most times, these young girls are very beautiful, smart with a bright and promising future. They cohabit with this boys who are their fellow students 'small boys' as roommates, surprisingly and often times very funny the silly girl would always introduce the small boy as her fiancé and then one begins to wonder if they have an idea the meaning and weight of the word fiancé??.</div>
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Our society is really sick courtesy of those that live in it. These girls collect either hostel fees or house rent from unsuspecting parents and most times struggling parents and end up in the hostel of a boy. Hold up girls ,lets reason together, because most times you girls are at the losing end; You struggled possibly for several years to gain admission, then you suddenly became a prayer warrior posting and shouting 'Amen' at the slightest provocation, you fasted and sowed seeds in different churches, you had only one prayer point filled with promises of your loyalty and devotion to God, 'if only HE would answer your prayer' and now that HE has done HIS part and you have gained that admission don't you think HE is expecting you to fulfill your part too??</div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">Let me remind you that part of the reasons you are in school is NOT to get the husband and wife experience; to see what it feels like for the boy to provide money for food and for the girl to go the market for food stuffs and cook. That’s a total misplacement of purpose.</span></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">If it true that gaining admission into the university gives you unlimited freedom, your parents are not there, no blood relation or even distant relation around to guide and monitor you, but what about giving your womanhood some respect?</span></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">We have seen on media many students commit suicide simply because they found the other partner cheating on him or her as both of them are practicing marriage illegally.</span></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">While at home he/she will pretend to be a single person. If a parent visits them in school abruptly I fear the parent can collapse or develop a heart attack.</span></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">You will be shocked to find your kid, the way she is dressed, drunk and staying with another man.</span></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">As a student, you should be responsible, don’t waste your precious time practicing marriage. Your time will come.</span></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">According to the research 97% of those who married themselves in school hostels never got married after schooling. Majority of the ladies are single, some don’t have kids because they aborted or must have used family planning pills.</span></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">Are they to be blamed??? </span></div>
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ABERANTE3 TVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03700086553281042099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3077317093664990352.post-18142139024870461762016-12-17T02:46:00.003-08:002016-12-17T02:46:33.688-08:00Ghana Presidential Transition: History should not repeat itself.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Once again, Ghana has underscored her reputation as a model African
democracy – a standing which owes much to the peaceful change of
governments through the ballot box. It is, however, ironic that previous
changes in government through the democratic process have exposed
serious shortcoming in our country’s governance institutional framework.<br />
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Ghana’s record on political transitions is not a proud one. Due to a
history of coup d’états, the first time in our history when power was
transferred from one democratically elected President to another was in
2001; the second was in 2009. </div>
<a name='more'></a>The transition related stories of
administrative lapses, forced evictions and ad hoc car seizures, among
others, have been well rehearsed and need no restating here. On the
whole, past transitions were characterised by confrontation instead of
cooperation, which led to a highly polarised political environment.<br />
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In response, the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) in collaboration
with the Ghana Political Parties Programme (GPPP), began work in 2007 to
prepare a multi-partisan framework of rules and regulations to govern
future transitions. In fact, that there was cross-party agreement that
reforming the transition process – for it to be credible and effective –
called for statutory underpinning. The IEA/GPPP Transition Bill was
passed unanimously by Parliament and signed into law as the Presidential
(Transition) Act, 2012 (Act 845).<br />
<br />
The primary objective of the Transition Act is to provide a framework
for managing the political transfer of power from an out-going
democratically elected President to an incoming President. The
legislation draws on practical lessons from the2001 and 2009
transitions. The Transition Act has three key tenets: accountability,
institutional clarity and a structured time frame for managing
transitions.<br />
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With regards to accountability, the law provides for period stocktaking
and a mechanism to safeguard official assets through an inventory
system. The submission of handing-over notes covering a broad range of
public offices is also a requirement under the transition legislation.
In terms of institutional clarity, the law specifies appointees whose
tenure ends with that of an outgoing President. As the Transition Team
works by consensus, the law provides an orderly process for resolving
transition related disagreements. This is through an Advisory Council
comprising the Speaker of Parliament as chairperson; an eminent citizen
appointed by the incumbent President and another eminent citizen
appointed by the President-elect. Finally, the Act stipulates a clear
time frame for outgoing Ministers and other officials to vacate their
state accommodation (within three months after the Presidential
inauguration). This provides an orderly approach to a thorny issue.<br />
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The post-2012 election period presented the initial test for
implementing some aspects of the Transition Act, as executive level
transition occurs even with the re-election of an incumbent. After that
transition, the IEA proposed a set of reforms to fine-tune the Act. This
forms the crux of the Presidential (Transition) (Amendment) Bill, which
was passed by Parliament in October 2016.<br />
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On 11thDecember 2016 the Transition Team to oversee the transfer of
power from the outgoing administration of President John Mahama to the
incoming administration of President-elect Nana Akufo-Addo was
inaugurated. This is the first time Act 845 is being applied in the
transfer of power from one democratically elected President to another.
This opinion piece highlights three key issues that require careful
consideration to improve accountability and a smooth transition.<br />
<br />
The first relates to safeguarding government assets. As accountability
remains the centerpiece of the Transition law, a new body, the
Presidential Estates Unit (PEU), has been established under the
legislation and charged with undertaking a periodic inventory of
official assets. Government assets in both the official and private
residence of the President, Vice President as well as Ministers are
covered by the requirement. An independent Administrator-General, Mr.
David Yaro, heads the PEU.<br />
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However, a complete inventory of Ghana’s official assets does not exist.
The PEU has been unable to fully undertake this task as it is heavily
under resourced and, also, faces institutional barriers. For this
transition, co-ordination with the Ministry of Water Resources, Works
and Housing and the Prestige Unit of the Public Works department (PWD) –
which have some records of presidential residences and ministerial
accommodation – remains crucial for ensuring accountability. In terms of
movable assets such as vehicles, the Office of the Chief of Staff maybe
a useful source.<br />
<br />
Second, the Transition law stipulates that handing-over notes covering
public offices such as the Presidency, Ministries, Departments and
Agencies of government are to be submitted to the Administrator-General
not later than 30 days before a presidential election. This provides
essential background knowledge for the incoming administration to
undertake their functions. Yet, the evidence from the 2013 transition
indicates the quality of several notes submitted were sub-standard. As a
matter of priority, the incoming team will do well to undertake a swift
review of the available handing-over notes in order to address any
significant gaps before incumbents leave office.<br />
<br />
Third, the law does not explicitly include the Administrator-General in
the transition -in spite of his relevance in the process. It will serve
the Transition Team well to include the Administrator-General as an ex
officio member given that Mr. Yaro’s core responsibility is to
facilitate the transition.<br />
<br />
Effective management of political transitions remains integral to good
governance. The commitment to ensuring a “smooth transfer of power” and
“co-operation” expressed by both President Mahama and President-elect
Akufo-Addo are encouraging. The Transition law will not remove all the
challenges relating to the democratic transfer of power. All the same,
careful consideration of the key issues outlined above in its
implementation, together with resourcing the PEU, should provide
optimism that Ghana’s dismal history of transitions will not repeat
itself.<br />
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<br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>
By: Dr. Michael Ofori-Mensah (Senior Research Fellow, IEA)</b></span></div>
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ABERANTE3 TVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03700086553281042099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3077317093664990352.post-12632771578355149692016-12-16T07:01:00.001-08:002016-12-16T07:01:14.036-08:00Africa's avoidable deaths<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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A couple of weeks ago, Kervin Kofi Moses, a 15-year old student of Ghana's Achimota School, died at the 37 Military Hospital after falling ill at school. His distraught mother called for the school to be closed down because school authorities were negligent in his death. This story hit me hard, maybe, because I have a son of the same age.</div>
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In truth though, the needless death of this boy was not an isolated incident. In 2012, I was involved in the care of a post-partum patient at Interbertin hospital in Cape Coast who died. Amongst other things, we could not get labs on weekends while the patient was on a ventilator!</div>
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A few months before then, I walked into a Healthcare post at Moree in the Central region of Ghana and found a two and a half-year old boy who had mental status changes and was on a blanket quietly waiting to die because his mother could not afford transport to send him to a hospital in Cape Coast.</div>
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Some years before then, in Tamale, the Dean of a Medical School had an Asthma attack and died because the regional hospital had no oxygen!</div>
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All across Africa, every morning and evening, stories are recounted of people dying in hospital after a short illness. For me, the one that takes the cake is that of the man admitted with a lung infection in "stable condition" who was dead in his hospital bed the next morning with no contact from staff throughout the night.</div>
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These are, of course, the stories of those who get to our hospitals.</div>
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There are, tragically, the many more who die of cholera and malaria and Tuberculosis and motor vehicle accidents and and childbirth and other illnesses without making it to our hospitals.</div>
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It would seem that these avoidable deaths do not just burden the poor.</div>
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In April 2012, Malawi President Bingu wa Mutharika died in Malawi. For days, it was not clear whether he had been flown to South Africa BEFORE or AFTER death.</div>
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A few months later, Ghana's President John ATTA-MILLS collapsed and died after a check-up after which he jogged on the tarmac of the Kotoka Internacional airport to underline his fitness. When he collapsed, there was confusion and his government was forced to prevent a coroner's inquest that may have caused embarrassment.</div>
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When General Abacha took ill in June of 1998, his military aide wasted previous time asking the gasping and unresponsive Abacha for permission to touch him before belatedly summoning his personal physician instead of an ambulance. Of course, he died.</div>
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When Ghana's senior statesman, P.V. Obeng had an Asthma attack beside a major road, he was transported to a hospital in a taxi, not an ambulance. Of course, he died.</div>
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Now, before proceeding to solution, let me get rid of some myths.</div>
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First, the deaths in hospitals are not all due to lack of equipment. Sometimes, they are due to poor leadership and lack of accountability. President Kufuor left Kumasi with the most modern Emergency facility in all of West Africa but a few years after, one after the other, 9 of 11 ventilators were allowed to break down without any effort to repair them while hospital executives stood by idly. </div>
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Not one hospital executive was fired. A few years ago, when over a hundred and fifty Ghanaians perished in fire and floodwaters, not a single official resigned or got fired.</div>
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Second, when one has a medical emergency money's usefulness is limited. When Sekou Toure became ill with what was a heart attack, he was flown to the Cleveland clinic for surgery. It was too late.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">What should we do?</span></b></div>
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First, we must build preventive and emergency Healthcare systems.Too many of our loved ones die from cholera, accidents and dirty environments.</div>
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Second, we must maintain the facilities we manage to build. </div>
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Third, we must have systems that execute. Hospitals are not just buildings and equipment. They are, even more than these, committed, well-trained accountable people who deliver timely, compassionate care.</div>
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Fourth, our leaders must respect and patronize the very systems they build for the rest of us. It is demoralizing for the President of Nigeria to spend billions of Naira to travel abroad for treatment of a ear infection when Nigeria has 250 Ear, Nose and Throat specialists and a National Ear centre. Dr. Enabulele of the Commonwealth Medical Association was right to describe this as "a national shame".</div>
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Fifth, we must have rational systems. A health insurance system that will pay for breast cancer treatment but not for mammograms or for Diabetic care but not for Hemoglobin A1c is not rational.</div>
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Sixth,we must put the sick ahead of the dead in our society. Too often, we seem more eager to give the dead proper burials than to give the living proper care.</div>
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To achieve all these, wherever we are, let us demand the best of our governments, devoid of politics. It is an affront to our dignity that even the progress we have made against diseases like AIDS and Ebola have been due to the generosity of others.</div>
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Death and diseases have no partisan colours and we must fight them together.</div>
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Let's raise the value of life in Africa together.</div>
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<b>Columnist: Arthur Kennedy</b></div>
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ABERANTE3 TVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03700086553281042099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3077317093664990352.post-80763051505016111762016-12-16T02:32:00.001-08:002016-12-16T02:36:47.252-08:00ASHANTI TRADITIONAL RELIGION.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The hierarchy of Ashanti deities has at its apex, Nyame, the supreme god, omniscient and omnipresent. His 'sons' are generally represented as being various natural features, such as rivers and lakes, his favourite son being the River Tano. The earth is represented by the goddess Asaase. Below these are the many lesser gods, or abosom, which are of great immediate importance as they are directly accessible to human beings, in a way in which the principal gods are not. Nyame is too remote to be petitioned directly in the normal course of events; although many Ashanti compounds contain an altar in the form of a forked branch in which is set a pot or basin, where offerings are placed, and most prayers commence with an invocation to the supreme being. The abosom are important therefore, in that they act as intermediaries between Nyame and mankind.</div>
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The Ashanti use the term obosomfo to describe any priest, while the term okomfo is reserved for those priests who are at times possessed. If when possessed the okomfo speaks in some strange tongue, as well he may, another priest must act as interpreter, while yet another may have the duty of restraining the okomfo if his actions appear to be coming too uncontrollable.</div>
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The name of God is often incorporated in West African names . . . The Yoruba have.. Olukoya, the Lord champions the cause of the suffering.</div>
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To the ancient Akan of Ghana, the Onyamedua tree (Alstonia boonei) served as a symbol of their dependence on God. The tree either grew in palaces, shrines and houses, or a stump of it with a forked branch was placed at entrances to these places. A pot containing rainwater (Nyankonsu, God's water) was placed on the tree or stump, and periodically the water was used to bless the inmates of the house. . .</div>
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The Akan of Ghana believe in an evil spirit called Sasabonsam . . . Sasabonsam is a monster of frightening appearance: it has the head of an animal with long black hair, a flaming mouth and a long tongue which sticks out most of the time: it has hoofs and a long tail which ends in the head of a snake and which coils around the trees on which it sits.</div>
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Like Sasabonsam, the Mmoatia live in the forest. They are believed to be very short in stature, standing not more than one foot high, and have curved noses and yellowish skins, while their feet point in the opposite direction. The Mmoatia communicate with each other through a whistle language and their favourite food is bananas. . . The Mmoatia are credited with a phenomenal knowledge of medicines which they impart to herbalists or medicine men. . .</div>
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The traditional Akan thought on man is that he is made up of okra, sunsum, notoro and mogya . . . the okra, or soul . . . is the undying part of man, the part which is given directly by the Creator before man is born into the world. . . . the sunsum (is) an intangible element which accounts for the character (suban), disposition and intelligence of a person . . . the ntoro is transmitted from a father to his children . . . the mogya or blood . . . is given by a mother to her child, which establishes a physiological bond between them and forms the basis of the abusua or clan. . . .</div>
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the Akan . . . perform a ritual to name a new-born child. . . two containers are provided, one filled with water and the other with palm wine . . . The principal officiant pours libation and then asks the father or his representative for the name to be given to the child. He then puts the child on his lap, calls out its name, and dips his right forefinger into the water to wet the tongue of the child three times and says " . . . wuse nsua, nsu!" meaning, literally, if you say it is water, let it be water you are tasting. . . In other words, the child is being told that he should be truthful.</div>
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Sacrificing to the Spirit of the Tree. It is necessary for the craftsman to appease the spirit of the tree before he fells the tree. He usually sacrifices eggs, fowls, and sheep; and before making the sacrifice he may say, "Sese tree, here is a chicken for you. I am going to fell you and make a stool out of you; receive an offering and eat. Please, let not the tool cut me. Do not let me suffer afterwards; and let me have a good price for the stool."</div>
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Nor does the sacrifice end here. It is expected that the spirit who has been deprived of his home will return now and again into the material in which it lived before the tree was cut down. The stool can also be inhabited by an external spirit. It is therefore important that similar sacrifices should be made to the completed stool or drum. . .</div>
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The same idea that the carved object becomes the shrine of the dislodged spirit of the tree and other spirits explains the custom of putting an empty stool on its side or against the wall. The reason for this is to prevent any wandering spirit from sitting on it, and so leaving an evil influence in it.</div>
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The Akan stool-carver therefore lives continuously in a religious atmosphere.</div>
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The Ashanti believes finally in the Odomankoma, the Everlasting Creator of all, and Onyankopon, the Unchangeable One on whom he leans. But as kings have linguists, so he believes the Mighty One has linguists in the lesser gods which serve him.. . . He believes that he must serve his god not for his own benefit only but for the benefit of those dead and those yet unborn.</div>
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<b><br />
</b></div>
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<b><u>REFERENCES</u></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><u><br />
</u></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Sarpong, Rev. Dr. Peter, Catholic Archbishop of Kumasi, The Sacred Stools of the Akan, Ghana Publishing Corporation, 1971</b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><br />
</b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Acheampong S.O., "Reconstructing the structure of Akan traditional religion," Mission 2 (1995), 79-93.</b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><br />
</b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Ackah C. A., Akan Ethics. A Study of the Moral Ideas and the Moral Behaviour of the Akan Tribes of Ghana, Accra, 1988.</b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Adegbite A., "The drum and its role in Yoruba religion," Journal of Religion in Africa 18 (1988), 15-26.</b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><br />
</b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Adewale S.A., "The significance of traditional religion in Yoruba traditional society," Orita 15 (1983), 3-15.</b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>----, "The Cultic use of Water among the Yoruba," Orita 18 (1986), 28-39.</b></div>
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<b><br />
</b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>----, "Sacrifice in African Traditional Religion," Orita 20 (1988), 91-106.</b></div>
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<b></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Annyereh L., "Marriage among the Konkomba," The Northern Review 8 (1989), 13-17.</b></div>
</div>
ABERANTE3 TVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03700086553281042099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3077317093664990352.post-58005021272494769922016-12-07T00:13:00.002-08:002016-12-07T00:13:19.203-08:00Mission possible for Nduom's Progressive Peoples’ Party (PPP).<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_ydAMeyT-as/WEfEY1q9VFI/AAAAAAAAHQk/_llJymU7jtoqJIRGBoRxvTljJnwK4cDowCLcB/s1600/progressive%2Bpeoples%2Bparty.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="107" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_ydAMeyT-as/WEfEY1q9VFI/AAAAAAAAHQk/_llJymU7jtoqJIRGBoRxvTljJnwK4cDowCLcB/s320/progressive%2Bpeoples%2Bparty.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Ghanaians are going to the polls this Wednesday 7th December,2016, to elect a new government that shall take over the administration of our country from 2017 to 2020. Care must be taken to choose a credible, competent and efficient leader to champion the cause of our dear nation. </div>
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The electorate are advised against voting on tribal, religious or parochial lines. We no longer need promisers to lead us but we need a leader with a proven and practical track record and an incorruptible person who shall be a servant rather than master of the people.</div>
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<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Past and present leaders</span></u></b></div>
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Other rulers, past and present; President Kwame Nkrumah, Prime Minister Busia, Presidents Hilla Limann, J.J. Rawlings, J.A. Kufuor, J.E. Atta Mills and now J.D. </div>
<a name='more'></a>Mahama, then of course, punctuations of Military rulers; N.L.C; NRC; SMC and AFRC. These leaders have set the pace for us and the mandate of the next Government of Ghana would be to continue from where the last of these predecessors would leave.<br />
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Incredibly, our nation has stalled in the developmental agenda and there is a great need to accelerate the growth of our economy by a level-headed group of people who are proactive, willing to listen to the needs of the people, and have the ability of turning our misfortunes into fortunes, thus, making the best of a bad situation through decisive leadership which can be found in no other person than Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom (a.k.a Edwumawura) and the Progressive People’s Party (PPP).</div>
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<u><b><span style="font-size: large;">Prospects </span></b></u></div>
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Getting close to 60 years of political independence, we could have accelerated the process of development against the background of the rich natural resources at our disposal which other nations can only dream about, namely timber, gold, manganese, cocoa, bauxite, agricultural products, oil and gas. There is the need to add value to these natural resources via introduction of relevant manufacturing bases, thereby creating thousands of jobs for the high rates of unemployment in the country. We have been exporting our raw materials to the developed world to add values to them only for us to import them back into the country.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>Challenges of the people </b></u></span></div>
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Incredibly, our country has been classified as a matured democracy by the developed, or if you can permit me to say “civilised world”. For this reason, the United Kingdom Government has decided to withdraw its annual grant of £4,000,000 (four million pounds’ sterling) to support of the process of our development into a full fletched democracy with effect from the beginning of 2017. In my opinion we are nowhere near maturity as a nation, let alone being democratic for loads of reasons you and I are aware of. </div>
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Travelling through the Tarkwa/Nsuaem constituency on the campaign trail I have experienced small towns and villages that lack some necessities like good roads, public toilets, schools, electricity, public libraries, community centres and worst of all school children would walk at least 2 (two) hours from the village of Mile five to the nearest town just to attend school and return home; thus, no less than 4 (four) hours travelling time. These villagers desperately need mini bus public transport to address this problem but help never came to them.</div>
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The irony of it all is that there has been an NPP member of Parliament in this area for 16 (sixteen) years. If you could imagine that NDC administration is in charge with the added problems of the District Assembly members belonging to an opposing political party, not forgetting that the District Chief Executive is an NDC appointee, reasons can be assigned to the lack of development in these areas. </div>
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In all these, there were NDC and NPP posters on buildings in the village, courtesy of the upcoming elections. The villagers told us point blank of the gifts they had received from the big parties before the PPP Team got there. Our message for the villagers was to vote for the PPP so we can take their plight on board in the House of Parliament.</div>
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<b><u>TIME FOR A POSITIVE CHANGE</u></b></div>
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Moving on, now is the time for Ghanaians to say we have had enough of the current administration and that there is the need for a change in the direction that our nation is going. Old dogs cannot learn new tricks and it goes without saying that the only political party that has ruled Ghana more than any other political party is the NDC. We are aware of countless number of malfeasances under the NDC administration and these have not been entirely resolved. The excuse is that these matters are in the law courts.</div>
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However, moving the clock back, the founder of the NDC, from AFRC and PNDC eras, the Junior Jesus days and let the blood flow days may be things of the past. But has the NDC administration learnt anything from those old days? We have officials in NDC administration today who were students chanting Junior Jesus and the rest of it.</div>
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What would they say in 2016, by 4th June,1979 standards? One would expect that a party formed by Flight Lt. J. J Rawlings would adhere to the powerful A.F.R. C. principles of Probity, Accountability and Transparency? Have they done that? If not, why not? </div>
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And so, what does the NDC administration take Ghanaians for when they muster up the impudence to ask Ghanaians for 4 (four) more years of “J.M Toaso” (JM Continue). Are they truly serious and would Ghanaians buy into this idea? Clearly, the NDC Administration has run out of ideas, lost its direction and needs to be retired for a new administration to take over to move the country forward. </div>
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The masses are yearning for a change and are therefore not willing to compromise or extend NDC’s lengthy rule, come 7th December,2016. Effectively, the swansong of “Mahama Toaso” (Mahama continue) must be changed to “Mahama Twa So” (Curtail it) and give way to Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom and the Progressive Peoples’ Party (PPP). The only way to do so is for the electorate to vote for Dr. Nduom and our Parliamentary candidates. </div>
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No one political party is endowed to rule Ghana indefinitely and all we are saying is for the Progressive People’s Party (PPP) to be given the chance to implement our Agenda for Change based on 4 (four) strong Pillars of Stewardship, Health, Education and Job Creation. </div>
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We are waiting in the wings to provide inclusiveness in governance, Ghanaian specialists whose talents would otherwise be wasted, no matter their political persuasions, women and the youth of the country and above all provide efficient, competent and incorruptible leadership that the nation so desires. We have a practical leader who is proactive and does things rather than promise. As a private man his Groupe Nduom has set up businesses all over the districts and regions. This is a leader who can ensure that the taxpayer’s funds are used efficiently.</div>
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<u><b><span style="font-size: large;">Peace</span></b></u></div>
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Ghana is not planning civil wars, yet there have been so many calls for peace leading up to, during and after the general elections without considering the impression we are creating to the international community.</div>
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The truth is that our country shall never descend to the levels of Rwanda, Kenya, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Egypt, to name a few developing countries that have taken to wars to resolve their political differences and those wars have resulted in millions of lives lost in the process. I am proud to say that Ghana is not one of such countries. We have a culture of tolerance in that we inter-marry along religious, political and tribal lines although there are the odd pockets of skirmishes in a comparatively few places. No one is intending to go to war with each other. </div>
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As so many stakeholders are talking about peace running up to the elections the Police Service and our Armed Forces may work together to ensure peace throughout the election period and we have absolute confidence in our security service.</div>
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Finally, I urge you to make this election a Mission Possible for the Progressive People’s Party (PPP) by voting for us. Please do not stay around the polling station area a after voting nor would you get involved in any political argument. Stay safe and AWAKE.</div>
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<b>Columnist: Yawson, Kit.</b></div>
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ABERANTE3 TVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03700086553281042099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3077317093664990352.post-57761071815888520362016-12-03T02:11:00.000-08:002016-12-03T02:11:22.630-08:00Full Speech: Donald Trump & Mike Pence Speech At Carrier Indianapolis Plant (12/01/2016) #Trump<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: justify;"><iframe width="454" height="280" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/E-yCJgBawv8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Donald Trump spoke at the Carrier plant in Indianapolis on Thursday, announcing a deal with the company to keep about 1,000 jobs in the state instead of moving them to Mexico.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The decision by the air-conditioner company comes as a win for the President-elect, who made the issue of retaining manufacturing jobs in the United States a core economic focus of his campaign.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> Trump has said he will overhaul the corporate tax code to be more friendly to businesses like Carrier, and the company will receive economic incentives worth $7 million, which were negotiated by Vice President-Elect Mike Pence, who is still governor of Indiana, according to the New York Times.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Despite the deal with Trump, Carrier still plans to close a plant in Huntington, Indiana, which will result in about 700 jobs moving to Mexico, NBC reported Thursday.</div></div>ABERANTE3 TVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03700086553281042099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3077317093664990352.post-7612903897624637382014-08-31T02:03:00.003-07:002014-08-31T02:03:33.200-07:00 Stop “joking” & re-strategize – Franklin Cudjoe blasts NPP.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gsAcKRyf2EE/VALkYxZIPjI/AAAAAAAAGxA/RNVXfDXHA4M/s1600/franklin%2Bcudjoe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gsAcKRyf2EE/VALkYxZIPjI/AAAAAAAAGxA/RNVXfDXHA4M/s1600/franklin%2Bcudjoe.jpg" height="320" width="293" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The Executive Director IMANI Ghana, Franklin Cudjoe has advised the
New Patriotic Party (NPP) to stop joking and re-strategize if they want
to win power in 2016.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“If the NPP believes they are a viable opposition, they should stop
the joking and try to organize themselves properly,” Franklin Cudjoe
said.</div>
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Speaking on <b>Citi FM’s</b> News Analysis Programme<i>, The Big Issue</i>, Mr. Cudjoe asked the party to develop sensible and alternate policies that will deliver Ghanaians from the current crisis.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“Even though this is the worst form of governance that we have seen,
if they assume that they can get into office by shouting hey corruption,
hey corruption, without showing us a plan backed by proper
calculations, they will be kidding themselves. We will wait for them
when they bring their leaflets they call manifestos we will see.”</div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
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A press conference held by the national executives of the NPP early this month, turned <strong>bloody</strong> when some angry party youth stormed the party’s headquarters with machetes.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The angry NPP youth who caused the mayhem said they are unhappy with
the current leadership of the party and are therefore demanding their
removal.</div>
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</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Some have attributed the violent clashes to internal bickering within
the party while others believe the the mayhem at the party’s
headquarters was orchestrated by the National Democratic Congress (NDC).</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Commenting on the issue, Mr. Cudjoe said allegations that the NDC influenced the incident was unjustifiable and unsubstantiated.</div>
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He noted that followers of the NPP will not forgive party officials if they “continue chopping themselves up”</div>
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ABERANTE3 TVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03700086553281042099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3077317093664990352.post-80043213553818978972014-08-31T01:42:00.000-07:002014-08-31T01:42:08.724-07:002012 election the fairest in Ghana’s history- Felix Kwakye.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ev-zS2k1s5A/VALfiFkNl1I/AAAAAAAAGww/R60Ym9rojGE/s1600/Kwakye%2BOfosu.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ev-zS2k1s5A/VALfiFkNl1I/AAAAAAAAGww/R60Ym9rojGE/s1600/Kwakye%2BOfosu.jpeg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
A Deputy Minister of Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu has described
the 2012 general elections as the fairest in the history of Ghana.<br />
<br />
He said history shows that Ghana consistently records various
irregularities in its elections, but the 2012 general elections was an
exception.<br />
<br />
“2012 election was the most fairest, cleanest, safest and violent free election,” Ofosu Kwakye opined.<br />
<br />
He said there were no reported cases of snatching of ballot boxes or intimidation of voters by macho men.<br />
<br />
The New Patriotic Party (NPP), after Electoral Commissioner Dr. Kwadwo
Afari-Gyan declared President John Dramani Mahama as winner of the 2012
presidential election, challenged the authenticity of the results in an
eight-month legal battle in the Supreme Court.<br />
<br />
Although the NPP believed there were irregularities in the election,
the National Democratic Congress (NDC) said it was due to administrative
mistakes.</div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
The verdict by the Supreme Court subsequently went in favour of
President John Dramani Mahama and the NDC but most NPP functionaries and
party members have expressed their dissatisfaction over the verdict,
one year after the verdict.<br />
<br />
Speaking on Joy Fm's <i>Newsfile</i> on Saturday, Mr. Felix Ofosu Kwakye said the voters could not be punished over mistakes of polling officials.<br />
<br />
“The EC cannot punish the over five million (5 million) voters because a
presiding member did not sign a pink sheet,” he intimated.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, Mrs Ursula Owusu Ekuful who was also on the programme called
on the EC and its stakeholders to properly explain the meaning of the
“no verification no vote” slogan.<br />
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong>Source: </strong>citifmonline </div>
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ABERANTE3 TVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03700086553281042099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3077317093664990352.post-2649441745550998762014-08-31T01:29:00.000-07:002014-08-31T01:29:05.642-07:00One-year after SC verdict; even lawyers are still confused – Ursula Owusu.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b30PTzOlXm0/VALatzxSLBI/AAAAAAAAGwg/dKGg3YbJH7Q/s1600/Ursula-Owusu1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b30PTzOlXm0/VALatzxSLBI/AAAAAAAAGwg/dKGg3YbJH7Q/s1600/Ursula-Owusu1.jpg" height="250" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The Member of Parliament for Ablekuma West, Mrs Ursula Owusu-Ekuful
fears the lack of ‘definitive statement’ by the Supreme Court (SC) in
its election petition ruling could scare aggrieved parties from going to
court in subsequent elections.<br />
<br />
After eight months of sitting, the court’s verdict has rather left many
people, including lawyers, confused, she admitted on Joy FM’s flagship
programme, Newsfile on Saturday.<br />
<br />
In her analysis, the New Patriotic Party MP said the Supreme Court fell
short in its declaration on what the laws say about what “constitutes
proper election,” as well as the legal framework and legal way for
future elections.<br />
<br />
In his criticism of the SC ruling, a constitutional lawyer, Prof. Kwasi
Prempeh accused the court of failing to give binding recommendations
for electoral reforms to the Electoral Commission.</div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
Delivering a paper in Accra to mark the one-year anniversary of the
landmark ruling, he indicated that the SC’s recommendations “are
analogous to non-binding advice...those recommendations cannot compel
the EC to do those things that have been recommended.”<br />
<br />
And Mrs. Owusu-Ekuful to a large extent shared Prof. Prempeh’s analysis
that the ruling lacked clarity and certainty regarding how elections
must be conducted and how to mount a successful challenge in court in
the event of a disputed election.<br />
<br />
“I agree with Professor Kwasi Prempeh's analysis that the ruling left all in legal profession confused,” she remarked.<br />
<br />
“And that is the source of my fear that in 2016, we are going to have
very difficult situations across most polling stations because the court
in effect, has told us that ‘don’t bother collecting evidence on the
face of the pink sheet or whatever. Don’t bother analyzing the law
vis-à-vis what actually happened on the grounds. Just make sure that
whichever ballots you want to enter the ballot box are counted and
declared, because so long as they are we would uphold it.”<br />
However, Felix Kwakye-Ofosu, Deputy Communications Minister believed,
the NPP, going to court to overturn about five million votes when “they
have not shown any evidence of fraud” was “inherently unjust” attitude
on its part. The errors the NPP was relying on were “obvious clerical
errors,” he claimed.<br />
<br />
In his view, the foul cry over the 2012 presidential election was meant
to play Nana Akufo-Addo as the victim and make him relevant instead of
accepting that the party’s 2012 campaign was unsuccessful.<br />
<br />
“I don’t know why somebody who wants to be a president would want the
right of the citizen curtailed just because of infractions that did not
affect the results?” he questioned.<br />
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Source: Myjoyonline </div>
</div>
ABERANTE3 TVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03700086553281042099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3077317093664990352.post-71363232882111196892014-08-31T01:07:00.002-07:002014-08-31T01:07:16.469-07:00Casely-Hayford: Elvis Afriyie Ankrah's tears mustn’t excuse any wrongdoing.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nrXBQbZIpXc/VALXM24O3-I/AAAAAAAAGwQ/5GthN2cVYx8/s1600/afriyie%2Bankrah%2Bcrying.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nrXBQbZIpXc/VALXM24O3-I/AAAAAAAAGwQ/5GthN2cVYx8/s1600/afriyie%2Bankrah%2Bcrying.jpg" height="320" width="302" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The tears shed by former Sports Minister Elvis Afriyie-Ankrah before the
Justice Dzamefe Commission – which is probing the events that conspired
to frustrate Ghana’s successful participation in the FIFA 2014 World
Cup in Brazil – must not excuse any wrongdoing, Financial Analyst Sydney
Casely-Hayford has said.<br />
<br />
Afriyie-Ankrah could not hold back his tears during one of the hearings when he appeared as a Witness.<br />
<br />
He got emotional when the Chairman of the Commission asked him about
how he felt, as Sports Minister, when the senior national team, the
Black Stars, threatened not to play their last group match until they
had been given their appearance fee of $100,000 apiece.<br />
<br />
His tears forced a hiatus during the hearing amidst a good doze of
comforting by Justice Dzamefe, who repeatedly told the former Minister
not to be “emotional” and “relax”. “We’re helping mother Ghana”, Dzamefe
consoled.</div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
Moments earlier, Afriyie-Ankrah told the Commission that the Black
Stars “had been assured that they will definitely get their money before
the next month. They were professionals and they knew that to win
matches they had to prepare. Once they did not prepare adequately, it
was going to affect their performance.<br />
<br />
Eventually, even though it came on the eve of [the] match, they still
got the money. By not preparing for the match, they couldn’t deliver and
yet they got the money”, he said.<br />
<br />
Apart from seeking to understand the circumstances that led Ghana’s
abysmal performance at the Mundial, the Commission is also keen on
unravelling how money was expended by officialdom – before and during
the tournament.<br />
<br />
Casely-Hayford told private FM station, Citi, Saturday that
irrespective of the former Minister’s tears, any wrongdoing detected by
the Commission, as far as Ghana’s participation in the football
showpiece was concerned, should not be excused.<br />
</div>
ABERANTE3 TVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03700086553281042099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3077317093664990352.post-4924409595692387092014-08-31T00:50:00.001-07:002014-08-31T00:50:29.130-07:00President John Mahama cleans gutters in Accra.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dD4wbBy8D28/VALTU0aWKmI/AAAAAAAAGwA/I2xGfxZL8_o/s1600/mahama.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dD4wbBy8D28/VALTU0aWKmI/AAAAAAAAGwA/I2xGfxZL8_o/s1600/mahama.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
President John Mahama, Saturday, personally immersed himself in the filth of the capital, Accra, to help clean the city.<br />
<br />
Reminiscent of a similar move by Jerry Rawlings when he was head of
state some two decades ago, Mahama descended into filthy drains and
garbage-choked corners in James Town, a slummy suburb of Accra, to clean
up the area.<br />
Accra Mayor Alfred Vanderpuije and other government officials were also part of the cleanup exercise.<br />
<br />
The President used the gesture to encourage residents in the area to
also clean up their environment so as to avert cholera and other
diseases.</div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
More than 7,000 people have been affected by cholera this year, with close to 70 of them dying in Accra alone.<br />
<br />
Mr Mahama urged Residents of the area to clean their communities weekly so as to stay healthy.</div>
ABERANTE3 TVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03700086553281042099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3077317093664990352.post-80436717198698123952014-08-14T12:13:00.001-07:002014-08-14T12:13:08.850-07:00Kan Dapaah: Ghana needs Akuffo-Addo now.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8IrgU3emv6Q/U-0KHwiNCXI/AAAAAAAAGu8/bhcYOV7lmr8/s1600/Kan%2BDapaah.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8IrgU3emv6Q/U-0KHwiNCXI/AAAAAAAAGu8/bhcYOV7lmr8/s1600/Kan%2BDapaah.png" height="200" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="clear: right; text-align: justify;">
Former Defense and Energy Minister, Albert Kan
Dapaah says Nana Akufo-Addo is the only one capable of taking Ghana out
of the challenges confronting the nation.<br />
<br />
According to him, Nana Akufo-Addo has prepared himself enough to manage this country better.<br />
<br />
“I think he is what Ghana needs now," Mr. Kan Dapaah said Wednesday, in
a chat with Mark Okraku Mantey, host of the ‘The Profiler’ Show on Hitz
103.9 FM.<br />
<br />
Nana Akufo-Addo is one of seven candidates hoping to lead the New
Patriotic Party into the 2016 presidential election despite failing to
make good that opportunity twice- 2008 and 2012. Other contestants are
Alan Kyerematen, Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku, Stephen Asamoah Boateng, Kofi
Osei Ameyaw and Francis Adai Nimoh.<br />
</div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
But the former Minister, who closely worked with the lead contenders-
Akufo-Addo and Alan Kyerematen- firmly believes, the former has taken
time to build himself for the highest position on the land.<br />
<br />
His preference for Akufo-Addo is also because, the former Akyem Abuakwa
South MP has proven beyond measure that he will be able to stand up to
all tests and issues of corruption.<br />
<br />
“I like Nana because, I believe he can stand up to any test and
corruption,” said the MP for Afigya Sekyere West, who once supported the
candidature of Alan Kyerematen.<br />
<br />
Mr. Kan Dapaah was the Ashanti Regional Representative on the National
Council of the NPP and member of the Finance and Economic Affairs
Committee of the party from 1992-1996.<br />
<br />
He won the Afigya-Sekyere seat at the 1996 parliamentary election and
has held since seat. In 1996, he was elected as the President of the
Institute of Chartered Accountants, Ghana, as well as the
Vice-President, Association of Accountancy Bodies in West Africa.<br />
<br />
He became Minister for Energy in the John Kufuor government after the NPP won power in the 2000 elections.<strong> </strong><br />
<div style="clear: right; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="clear: right; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: orange;"><strong> </strong></span><strong><span style="background-color: orange;">Source</span>: </strong>myjoyonline</div>
</div>
ABERANTE3 TVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03700086553281042099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3077317093664990352.post-18953169688084291402014-08-14T11:59:00.002-07:002014-08-14T11:59:39.806-07:00Ghana: Power Play Over Ghana Gas - As Ghanaians Wait for Delivery First Gas.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-z-xt_MZyvss/U-0G9sAy5TI/AAAAAAAAGu0/m-0QDSFGcnI/s1600/ghana%2Bgas.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-z-xt_MZyvss/U-0G9sAy5TI/AAAAAAAAGu0/m-0QDSFGcnI/s1600/ghana%2Bgas.jpeg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
A long simmering turf war for control over associated gas from the
jubilee fields could be playing out on the eve of the first processing
of the commodity from the oil fields.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) has confirmed to The
Chronicle, a media report that the Jubilee partners are 'demanding' a
full audit of the gas processing plant before it is connected to the
floating vessel, FPSO Kwame Nkrumah, offshore.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
State newspaper Daily Graphic, quoting sources close to the project,
reported that an initial plan to create a by-pass to carry gas onshore
from the FPSO to pipelines leading to the Aboadze Thermal Plant was
ignored by Ghana Gas Company, despite huge investments made by the
partners in purchasing equipment for that purpose.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
This has raised fears of further delays in the country's quest to
deliver gas from the fields for cheaper power generation. The
Communications Manager at the GNPC, who confirmed the report to The
Chronicle, said the audit was only "a common sense approach" to testing
the integrity of the facility for safety reasons.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
But, Dr. George Sipa Yankey, explained that the by-pass idea could
have extended the delivery period of the gas from the field for another
nine months.</div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
He said the need for the by-pass was part of the initial
plan, but noted that the partners could not readily get a heater
component to regulate the heat for Aboadze to receive the gas, as
initially anticipated.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Secondly, there was a need for a more detailed engineering works to
be done before the by-pass could be constructed, due to the fact that
the plant's systems are computerized, and the by-pass facility needed to
be configured into them. Thirdly, the gas pipelines were not designed
to take wet gas straight from the fields, noting that this could pose
some serious challenges for the power plants.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
He further explained that the idea of the by-pass was within the
programme of the Ghana Gas Company, but due to constraints with getting
the heater component, it was decided to construct it to coincide with a
turbo expander project to help save the plant in the event of upset
conditions, and also ensure continued gas flow even during plant
maintenance.<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
He insisted that the company was in constant touch with the lead
partners, Tullow, to get the by-pass done. Speaking on the subject of an
audit, he said the impression being created by a section of the public,
who remain skeptical about the project, to the effect that Tullow was
demanding an audit was not true, as an agreement had long been reached
for the audit to be done.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
To this effect, he said, the quality assurance group of Sinopec, the
company working on the project, will be coming to assess the project by
next week.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Furthermore, an independent party would also be conducting an audit
this month. "It is the taxpayers' money, and we want everything to be
okay," he emphasised. He noted further that all components at the plant
are all captured at a motor control center to detect problems and either
solve them or prompt for personnel to be sent to fix it. "You see,
people do not appreciate that the system is computerised."</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Bernice Natue, Communications & Investor Relations Manager,
Tullow Ghana Limited, in an email correspondence to The Chronicle on the
issue, said, "To the best of our knowledge, the by-pass project is on
hold until the completion of the main plant."</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
She explained that an independent audit is required as part of the
regular assurance procedure associated with engineering projects of such
nature, as it will assure the integrity of the Gas Processing Plant
(GPP) and certify that it is safe and ready to receive hydrocarbon gas.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"Tullow is committed to adhering strictly to international safety
standards and local regulations, and will continue to work with partners
in the project to ensure that gas is exported from the Jubilee Fields
to the GNGC facility at Atuabo safely for the mutual benefit of all
concerned," she said.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="publication" style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://www.ghanaian-chronicle.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Ghanaian Chronicle (Accra)" src="http://allafrica.com/static/images/publishers/minibanners/ghanachronicle180.jpg" title="Visit Ghanaian Chronicle (Accra)" /></a>
</div>
</div>
ABERANTE3 TVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03700086553281042099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3077317093664990352.post-53817308003911363502014-08-14T11:48:00.000-07:002014-08-14T11:48:00.305-07:00Ghana Armed Forces to help in building Ebola isolation centres.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SenSfZg-rgU/U-uL2ts-w7I/AAAAAAAAGt4/hVXkv9a58hw/s1600/201481384552260734_20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SenSfZg-rgU/U-uL2ts-w7I/AAAAAAAAGt4/hVXkv9a58hw/s1600/201481384552260734_20.jpg" height="211" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Field Engineers of the Ghana Armed Forces have been deployed to speed up
work on the three designated centers to be set up in the treatment of
Ebola in the country in case of an outbreak.<br />
<br />
The centers are to be set up in Tema, Kumasi and Tamale as part of
measures taken by the Interministerial Team on Ebola to prevent an
outbreak of the deadly disease in Ghana.<br />
<br />
The disease has so far killed over 1,000 people in West Africa since its outbreak in February.<br />
<br />
All suspected cases in Ghana have tested negative, forcing the
Interministerial Team headed by the Minister of Health to intensify
preventive measures.<br />
</div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
President John Dramani Mahama met the Team on Wednesday, August 13 and
gave the directive to the military to help in erecting the treatment
centers.<br />
<br />
As of August 6, Guinea, where the disease first broke in West Africa,
has recorded 367 deaths. Liberia has recorded 294 deaths, Sierra Leone,
298 deaths while Nigeria, the latest country to be Ebola-infested, has
recorded three deaths.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, government has directed Ghanaians not to embark on travels
to the Ebola-hit countries for safety unless such is “absolutely
necessary.”<br />
<br />
The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Hannah Serwaa
Tetteh, said Ghanaians who contract the disease in those countries may
not get government assistance per the warning.<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="floatRight" style="text-align: justify;">
<strong>Source: </strong>tv3network.com</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
</div>
ABERANTE3 TVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03700086553281042099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3077317093664990352.post-1191035034541732932014-08-14T11:46:00.000-07:002014-08-14T13:23:07.872-07:00Flashback! Ato Ahwoi's letter to Dr Spio-Garbrah.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6Go9UqOmiCo/U-0ZqRj9RDI/AAAAAAAAGvQ/Io3oapGCM9I/s1600/Ato%2BAhwoi%27s%2Bletter%2Bto%2BDr%2BSpio-Garbrah.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6Go9UqOmiCo/U-0ZqRj9RDI/AAAAAAAAGvQ/Io3oapGCM9I/s1600/Ato%2BAhwoi's%2Bletter%2Bto%2BDr%2BSpio-Garbrah.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Below unedited, is an open letter from Mr. Ato Ahwoi, a leading member
of, the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) to another leading
member, Dr. Ekwow Spio-Garbrah:<br />
<br />
"Hello Spio,<br />
<br />
I have read with interest and disbelief, your long article published in
the September 18 and 23, 20009 issues of The Daily Graphic. It was
deceptively headed, 'HONOURING NKRUMAH'S LEGACY: A CHALLENGE TO THE
NDC'. I use the word, deceptively because it was an opportunity for you
to launch an unnecessary attack on President John Atta Mills and the NDC
government, under the guise of honouring Nkrumah's legacy.<br />
<br />
Spio, I get the impression that you are trying to intimidate the
President to give you a cabinet appointment. You gave many Ghanaians
that impression when you quoted the reason ex-President John Kennedy
gave his brother, Robert Kennedy (then Attorney General) for tolerating a
difficult man like J. Edgar Hoover as the Director of the Federal
Bureau of Investigations (FBI). You said President Kennedy told his
brother, 'Bob, I'd rather have Edgar inside the government pissing out
than outside pissing in.'</div>
<a name='more'></a><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Another indicator of you wanting to pressurise President Mills to give
you a ministerial appointment is when you stated 'Are we in Ghana saying
that we don't know why President Obama invited Mrs. Hilary Clinton into
an important position in spite of the quite bitter contest they had
during the primaries in the Democratic Party?' Are you implying because
you lost miserably to the President in the NDC primaries, he should
invite you into an important position in his government?</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Spio, please remember that Mrs. Clinton never said Mr. Obama was a sick
man and will NEVER WIN an election. Now, why are you so desperate to
serve in the government headed by someone who will NEVER WIN an
election?</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
My NDC brother, if President Mills does not appoint you as a Minister, please continue to piss in as many times as you want!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
You are dying to be a Minister in President Mills' government, yet you
are insulting your potential colleagues that they 'have not been
appointed on the basis of merit but by virtue of proximity to power,
feigned loyalty, financial considerations and other factors.' Are you
implying that you were appointed a Minister in the 90s by some of these
reasons like feigned loyalty and financial considerations?</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Spio, your reference to football in your article gave me the impression
that your knowledge about football is limited. Until last year, three
players in Barcelona, Ronaldinho, Deco and Eto'o considered themselves
indispensable. Last year, the Barcelona coach sold two of them -
Ronaldinho, Deco and for the first time won the treble including the
Spanish League and the European Champions League. This year, he has sold
Eto'o and Barcelona are still on fire! The NDC government will do well
without you in government.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I have been wondering the basis for certain statements you made,
bearing in mind what you said that there is no serious opinion polling
in Ghana but informal chop bar research, personal vendetta stories and
skewed field reports from certain 'security' agencies. Against this
background, can you please indicate, in your next article, the basis for
these three conclusions:</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
that the impatience of the NDC rank and file has been further worsened
by some of the appointments that have been made, where they can see
clearly that many people who had little to do with the NDC's electoral
victory are amongst those reaping the rewards;</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=3077317093664990352" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>is there a reason why many of our NDC appointees are reported as being
no longer accessible to party members by phone or text and have
distanced themselves from those who put them into power?' and (do most
appointees realise that a gulf is widening between them and the party
faithful? Are the appointing authorities aware that most foot soldiers
are angry because of the way some leading party members are being
treated?'</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
By the way, Spio, was President Mills obliged to consider a so-called
well-considered written proposal on how to gain most from the Obama
visit? You talked about a written recommendation in November, 2008 for
the NDC leadership to establish a transitional team - how can an
opposition party have an effective transition team? Any transitional
team will need the co-operation of the government in power Spio, you
claim that many NDC members have been calling on you to be a candidate
for one of the National Vice Chairmanship slots. That is not the way to
go about it - please leave President Mills and the NDC government to do
what the true NDC members in particular and Ghanaians in general know
they are capable of - giving all of us, A BETTER GHANA.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Finally, in future, you want to be a presidential candidate of the NDC
and become the President of the Republic of Ghana. As a true party man,
why don't you do a private memo on the shortcomings and possible
solutions, than publishing them?"</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="floatRight" style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Source: </b>Culled from The Daily Dispatch of August 29, 2009)</div>
</div>
ABERANTE3 TVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03700086553281042099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3077317093664990352.post-83747752770492339102014-08-14T11:42:00.002-07:002014-08-14T11:42:37.398-07:00Rawlings mourns PV Obeng: “I feel so bad”.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OwcCDZQEX9o/U-0C5tOo_kI/AAAAAAAAGuk/FYnmKkXRy2I/s1600/Jerry%2BJohn%2BRawlings.jpg.pagespeed.ic.P04lHeGiFN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OwcCDZQEX9o/U-0C5tOo_kI/AAAAAAAAGuk/FYnmKkXRy2I/s1600/Jerry%2BJohn%2BRawlings.jpg.pagespeed.ic.P04lHeGiFN.jpg" /></a></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Former President of Ghana, Jerry John Rawlings, has said he “feels hurt”
by the death of PV Obeng, one of Ghana’s most decorated public
servants.<br />
<br />
The ex-chairman of the National Development Planning Commission died on
May 17 this year after suffering a cardiac arrest. He was laid in state
on Thursday at the State House in the nation’s capital, Accra.<br />
<br />
Rawlings, who is the longest living past president of the young
oil-producing country, worked closely with the ex-senior adviser to the
late John Evans Atta Mills and continued in a similar role under current
leader, John Mahama.<br />
<br />
“It hurts me. I feel so bad about it. We have lost a gem,” Rawlings told state-owned Radio Ghana.</div>
<a name='more'></a><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
On his part, ex-President John Agyekum Kufuor of the opposition New
Patriotic Party described Obeng as an industrialist and a “lovable
person.”</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
He said: “I knew him from the late 70s… PV has been a great friend. He
is intelligent and industrious. That’s how I believe he became a virtual
prime minister. He was lovable. You can’t talk of the PNDC (Provisional
National Defence Council) era without him and even into the NDC regime I
believe he featured prominently. He served his country.”</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
A remembrance service was held in Obeng’s honour at the Good Shepherd
Catholic Church in Tema – the Harbour City of Ghana - before being laid
in state later in the day.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
He was the chairman of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and
Technology Council and the Chief Consultant and Chairman of OB
Associates - a public and private sector consulting firm and also, the
chairman of Ghana Agro and Food Company.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="floatRight" style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Source: </b>starrfmonline</div>
</div>
ABERANTE3 TVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03700086553281042099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3077317093664990352.post-58641669202591404222014-08-13T09:33:00.000-07:002014-08-13T09:33:07.257-07:00NDC keeps Ghanaians poor for its own benefit - Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KRVfyWmpgJk/U-uTDMH8TjI/AAAAAAAAGuI/1uiz01L8arc/s1600/jake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KRVfyWmpgJk/U-uTDMH8TjI/AAAAAAAAGuI/1uiz01L8arc/s1600/jake.jpg" height="315" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Former NPP Chairman Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, in an interview with
Ghananewsmedia.com, has declared that the NDC has no interest in lifting
Ghanaians out of poverty because “it is to the benefit of the NDC to
keep people poor.” As long as there is rampant poverty in Ghana, it
makes it easier for the NDC to prey on poor Ghanaians with cash and
other tokens in return for their votes during elections.<br /><br />
Also Suggesting that educated and discerning Ghanaians are more likely
to understand the issues facing the country, and are therefore less
likely to be convinced by lies and propaganda by the NDC, Jake indicated
that the less educated people are, the more likely they are to be
influenced by lies and propaganda. Thus, the NDC has no interest in
educating Ghanaians.<br /><br />
“If I am reasonably well off, or I have ambition, and you come and say
to me that you want to buy my votes with GHC50, then I would tell you
that my vote is worth a heck of a lot more than GHC50. </div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
But if I have
nothing at all; I cannot get food that day, and you come and say to me
that you want my vote for GHC50, I would gladly give it to you because
GHC50 would help me out for that day,” he added.<br /><br />
On the other hand, Jake indicated that while it is in the interest of
the NDC to keep Ghanaians poor, “it is in the interest of the NPP to get
Ghanaians wealthy.” He said the last NPP government laid the
foundations to build a society where every Ghanaian is empowered to
pursue wealth. Programs such as free school feeding, free maternal care,
NHIS, capitation Grant, and many others were designed to lend a helping
hand to Ghanaians as they tried to lift themselves out of poverty.<br /><br />
Unfortunately, Jake lamented, the NDC has destroyed all those social
intervention programs in pursuit of their goal of keeping Ghanaians poor
and destitute so as to create an environment conducive for vote buying
come election time. In addition to keeping Ghanaians poor, Jake pointed
out that the NDC goal of minimizing education, as demonstrated by their
opposition to NPP’s Free SHS, is to make it easy for Ghanaians to
believe their lies and propaganda.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="floatRight" style="text-align: justify;">
<strong><span style="background-color: #f9cb9c;">Source</span>: </strong>Ghananewsmedia.com</div>
</div>
ABERANTE3 TVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03700086553281042099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3077317093664990352.post-21953794926665178692014-08-13T09:11:00.004-07:002014-08-13T09:11:47.185-07:00West Africa: How Does the Ebola Serum Work? an Ebola Serum Researcher Explains.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="kindofstory" style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SenSfZg-rgU/U-uL2ts-w7I/AAAAAAAAGt4/hVXkv9a58hw/s1600/201481384552260734_20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SenSfZg-rgU/U-uL2ts-w7I/AAAAAAAAGt4/hVXkv9a58hw/s1600/201481384552260734_20.jpg" height="211" width="320" /></a><span style="background-color: white;"><b> </b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #e69138;"><b>Interview</b></span></div>
<div class="kindofstory" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: #e69138;"><b><span style="background-color: white;"></span><br />
</b></span><cite class="byline"></cite></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The World Health Organisation on Tuesday authorised the use of an experimental serum in the fight against the deadly Ebola virus. The <a href="http://www.mappbio.com/zmapinfo.pdf" target="_blank">ZMapp </a>treatment is in the early stages of development and has only been tested on monkeys.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
However, it has been used to treat two US aid workers and a Spanish priest who were infected in Liberia. The serum is in short supply but the company has said it has sent all available doses to West Africa free of charge following an outcry over its use on foreign aid workers. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
RFI spoke to structural molecular biologist <b>Erica Ollmann Saphire</b> from the Scripps Research Institute, who worked on developing the Ebola serum.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">Could you explain specifically how this ZMapp serum works? </span></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
A vaccine is something that would inspire your immune system to raise its own antibodies. In this antiserum we're providing the antibodies immediately. So you're conferring immediate immunity against the virus. In this serum there are three particular antibodies that work three different ways. Two of them actively neutralise or inactivate the virus.</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
The other one flags the virus or infected cells for destruction by the immune system. So there are three parts that work in complementary ways to destroy the virus itself and alert the immune system to the presence of the attack.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>It's been used on the two US aid workers but failed in the case of the Spanish priest. Do we know whether it really made any difference in the case of the aid workers?</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The doctors treating them seem to think that it did. We would not know for sure until we had done a clinical trial. For example, the aid workers had no identical twin that was infected with the same dose, on the same day, which was not treated. So you're never sure until you've done that clinical trial that has a placebo as the alternative.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>You wonder whether the age of the Spanish priest contributed to it not working in his case.</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
One does wonder. I mean clinical status differs. Another factor would be the time between infection and treatment. What we do know well from the laboratory animal studies is that the longer one waits for treatment, the more difficult it is to treat.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
If you offer the antibodies between 24 hours and three days after infection to the animals, they'll all survive. But the longer one waits, the more difficult it is. Those animal studies, they're given a very high dose. We don't know what dose of virus the human receives because it's always an accidental infection and for most of these medical infections, we don't know the exact day of infection either.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>What side effects could we possibly see from the use of this serum? Was there any indication of this through the testing on animals that you carried out?</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
There was no indication of side effects in the animals. I didn't do those animal studies myself. Those were done by the Public Health Agency of Canada. So it's not so much my expertise.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
None were noted worth reporting. Antibodies are generally safe and well-tolerated, especially if they are targeted against the virus. Possible side effects could be the person might be allergic to it in some way. Typically antibodies are quite safe and well-tolerated. There is a antiviral antibody therapy approved for RFV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus), the respiratory infection in babies.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>How hard would it be to increase the manufacture of the ZMapp serum?</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Not difficult. Right now it's being manufactured in tobacco leaves because they can coax tobacco to make a lot of it for them. So they just need time to grow more tobacco leaves and have the vectors start expressing it in tobacco. So it could be made, maybe it would be two months.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Could you tell us more about where it comes from? You just mentioned tobacco leaves.</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The original antibodies were identified by immunising mice. Then they swapped out the mouse sequences for human sequences in a process called humanisation. It's quite straightforward to make a human drug. Then to express a lot of it, what they do is they have a viral vector called tobacco mosaic virus that only infects tobacco, that doesn't infect humans.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
That tobacco mosaic virus has been engineered to encode the antibodies. So when the virus infects the tobacco leaf, the tobacco leaf becomes a small production factory for an antibody. This is done in a special greenhouse and then they harvest the leaves and they put them essentially in a giant juicer and purify the antibodies from the liquid.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The two main problems you seem to have mentioned so far are the immediate administration of this serum to people who've contracted Ebola and the fact that we don't really know how much serum to give them.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Not quite. So on the first one, the key advantage of the antibody therapy is that it doesn't have to be immediate. For every single animal to survive a very high dose of experimental virus, the antibody has to be given within three days. But even if they wait until Ebola hemorrhagic virus develops, they could save a great number.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
So the advantage of an antibody therapy over other therapies is it does give you a longer treatment window. But the treatment window is not infinite. The longer one waits, the more difficult it is to fight it. Because the longer one waits, the more virus there is in that patient, it will replicate and replicate. If you have a small amount of virus its easier for the antibody to clear it out, a very large amount of virus would be very difficult.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The issue of how much to give...</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
That was the subject of a clinical trial which was scheduled for 2015. That's the normal process, it worked well in the test tubes, it worked well in the mice, worked well in the monkeys and then the human trial was scheduled for 2015. In that trial healthy volunteers would receive the antibody just to understand if there are any adverse affects.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
What dose of antibody should be given and how long does it last, the kinetics and those kinds of things. Because that trial hadn't happened yet when the Ebola outbreak occurred, we don't fully know the right dose to give a human and we don't know the treatment window. We will never really know the human treatment window until we do a human trial during an outbreak. Because you would never intentionally any human Ebola virus, you can't do human experiments.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
But if they were to do a randomised double-blind placebo controlled trial during this outbreak, we would have the answers to all those questions. We would know of the 100 people that received the drug, how many survive, and the 100 people that did not receive the drug how many survived. Within those ranges are those populations of people that did and did not receive the drug, we would probably have a range of ages and a range of clinical statuses, from people that were newly infected and otherwise still healthy, to people that were quite sick and people that were young and people that were old.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Do you anticipate an eventual vaccine for Ebola, with continued research in the future?</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I do. There are candidate vaccines that also work well in animal models. That seems like a terrific idea for people that know that they are going into an outbreak situation or for scientists that work with Ebola virus in a lab every day.</div>
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<div class="page-end-header">
West Africa </div>
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<a class="headline" data-aa_source="slideout" href="http://allafrica.com/stories/201408131235.html?aa_source=slideout"></a></div>
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<div class="story-footer-link" style="text-align: justify;">
<i><a href="http://www.english.rfi.fr/africa/20140813-how-does-ebola-serum-work-ebola-serum-researcher-explains" target="_blank">Read or Listen to this story on the RFI website.</a></i></div>
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ABERANTE3 TVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03700086553281042099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3077317093664990352.post-6522826200851778952014-08-13T09:06:00.001-07:002014-08-13T09:06:23.610-07:00West Africa: Ebola Q+A - Why Is This Outbreak So Severe?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SenSfZg-rgU/U-uL2ts-w7I/AAAAAAAAGt4/hVXkv9a58hw/s1600/201481384552260734_20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SenSfZg-rgU/U-uL2ts-w7I/AAAAAAAAGt4/hVXkv9a58hw/s1600/201481384552260734_20.jpg" height="211" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The largest ever outbreak of Ebola shows no sign of abating, and attempts to contain it have so far met with little success.
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
People are avoiding medical centres for fear of catching Ebola, and
dying of treatable diseases like malaria and diarrhoea as a result.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
But how easy is it to catch Ebola? And why has this outbreak affected
so many more people than previous outbreaks of the disease?</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Thomson Reuters Foundation asked Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) and
the World Health Organization (WHO). Here's a quick summary of what they
said:</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>How easy is it to catch Ebola?</strong></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Ebola is one of the deadliest diseases known to humanity with a fatality rate of up to 90 percent and no known cure.</div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
To catch it, infected blood, saliva, urine or other secretions have to enter your eyes, nose, mouth or broken skin.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
It can also be spread through infected needles.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Men who have fully recovered can spread the disease through their semen for weeks afterwards.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
All those caring for a patient are vulnerable to infection, as are
relatives handling the body of someone who has died of the disease.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Most Ebola outbreaks are very small. Why is this one so different?</strong></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Since Ebola was first discovered in 1976 in Congo and Sudan, there
have been more than 20 outbreaks, most of them affecting only a handful
of people.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The latest outbreak, which was first identified in Guinea in March, had killed 1,013 people across West Africa by Aug. 9.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>So why is this one different?</strong></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Most outbreaks start when a hunter from a remote jungle village
catches Ebola from an animal. In that situation the disease can be
contained within the village, and doctors can go house to house to
explain how people can protect themselves.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
By contrast, this one began in a village in Guinea near the border
with Sierra Leone and Liberia, and quickly spread to nearby towns with
good transport links.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Why do medical staff dress like they're in a chemical warfare zone?</strong></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Agencies and hospitals that can afford protective suits want to
ensure their staff run no risk of infection as the disease has no cure.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
But the clothing is tiring to wear, and causes some people to faint.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Relatives have to suit up to visit patients in specialist units, and
are decontaminated when they leave. Because visitors cannot stay in the
units, patients often die alone.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Is the Ebola outbreak more deadly than other diseases in countries like Liberia and Sierra Leone?</strong></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia have very limited healthcare so even
treatable diseases are deadly, including cholera, malaria, tuberculosis
and AIDS.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Sierra Leone has experienced the largest number of Ebola cases so far
- 730 cases and 315 deaths. By contrast, malaria alone killed 3,611
people, and diarrhoea 5,460 children in the West African country in
2012.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Sierra Leone has only a few hundred medical staff to serve a population of nearly 6 million, according to WHO figures.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #e69138;"><strong>What's being done to stop its spread?</strong></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Countries and health agencies are educating people about Ebola and the importance of hygiene.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
But there are many false rumours about the disease, including that
Ebola clinics are being used to harvest organs. A few days ago, a bishop
in Liberia said on local radio that Ebola didn't exist.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Governments are also trying to impose travel blockades and close borders to try to contain it.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The most effective way to control the outbreak is to trace each
patient and then trace everyone they've been in contact with. But as yet
there isn't enough accurate data to do this.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
West Africa has never experienced Ebola before, and there are few
medical staff in the worst-affected countries. Aid agencies have
deployed international experts to help treat and contain the disease.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Is the outbreak likely to last much longer?</strong></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The outbreak seems to be easing in Guinea, but is growing in Sierra
Leone and Liberia, especially the latter. It has also spread to Nigeria,
Africa's most populous nation, where there have been 13 confirmed
cases.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
It's likely to continue for a few months yet, and spread to more African countries.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
It's unlikely to spread to the West because of the quality of health care there.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #b45f06;"><em>Read the <a href="http://www.trust.org/item/20140812142928-043gk/" target="_blank">original</a> of this report on <a href="http://www.trust.org/alertnet/" target="_blank">AlertNet Climate</a>, the Thomson Reuters Foundation's daily news website on the human impacts of climate change.</em></span></div>
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ABERANTE3 TVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03700086553281042099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3077317093664990352.post-27442388855832941502014-08-13T09:02:00.001-07:002014-08-13T09:02:40.199-07:00Africa Ebola outbreak: How do we prevent it? <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SenSfZg-rgU/U-uL2ts-w7I/AAAAAAAAGt4/hVXkv9a58hw/s1600/201481384552260734_20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SenSfZg-rgU/U-uL2ts-w7I/AAAAAAAAGt4/hVXkv9a58hw/s1600/201481384552260734_20.jpg" height="211" width="320" /></a><span> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span>The outbreak of Ebola in West Africa has put the international
community on alert. Observers have described one of the scenes as a </span><a class="internallink" href="http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/08/140814-ebola-africa-america-medicine-science-world/" target="_blank"><span>state of war</span></a><span>. The crisis could no longer be handled by line ministries and affected governments have been forced into a state of emergency.</span> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span>The immediate sources of the crisis are medical. But lasting
solutions will have to be sought in the wider economic context in which
health care functions. The roots lie in at least two major weaknesses in
Africa's current development trends: poor infrastructure and limited
investment in public health.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span>The Ebola strain ravaging West Africa and putting the
international community at risk has not changed since the first outbreak
in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Sudan in 1976. But Africa's
rapid urbanisation has by far outstripped the capacity of public
infrastructure and health services to stem the spread of disease.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span>Two of the countries that are most severely affected (Liberia
and Sierra Leone) endured long periods of civil war that destroyed or
stalled planned infrastructure and public health development. Guinea has
an equally long history of low investment in infrastructure.</span></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span>As Professor Richard Olds dean of the School of Medicine at the University of California (Irvine) </span><a class="internallink" href="http://embedle.com/e/BMyLa2G5b#http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/ebola-outbreak-it-s-not-the-virus-but-africa-that-s-changed-1.2729264?cmp=rss&utm_content=buffer06148&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer" target="_blank"><span>says</span></a><span>, the outbreak has occurred in regions that are “<span>much more densely populated, much more urban in their nature and those populations are much more mobile.”</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span>The development of infrastructure needed to provide improved
quality of life, employment and security has lagged behind demand. In
fact, such infrastructure limitations are partly responsible for the </span><a class="internallink" href="http://www.kcl.ac.uk/sspp/departments/geography/research/epd/PottsWP57.pdf" target="_blank"><span>slowing rate of urbanisation</span></a><span> in many part of Africa.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span>The same poor infrastructure that is limiting economic
opportunities is also critical for improved public health. The limited
availability of basic amenities such as clear water and sanitation adds
more pressure on the stressed health services.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span>Infrastructure and public health are intricately connected. In
fact, a functioning infrastructure (such as transportation, energy,
water and sanitation) is the foundation for improved public health. Most
of Africa's urban poor live in slums where such services are limited.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span>The Ebola outbreak is therefore not just a medical emergency.
It is a clear sign that Africa's current growth patterns cannot be
sustained and can easily unravel as a result of disease outbreaks. The
promise of cities as centres of creativity, innovation and growth cannot
be realised when nearly 70 percent of the urban population lives in
slums.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span>Africa's rapid urbanisation is occurring in the age of climate
disruption.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span> The projected ecological changes arising from global warming
as well as local deforestation are sources of additional concern.
Indeed, the </span><a class="internallink" href="http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg22329812.500-deadliest-ebola-outbreak-being-driven-by-urbanisation.html#.U-dy-vldWSo" target="_blank"><span>displacement of bats</span></a><span>
carrying the Ebola virus through deforestation may have contributed to
spread of the disease. Africa's infrastructure for development will
therefore need to include a strong health research component.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span>Over the last decade African leaders have put considerable
emphasis on the importance of funding agricultural research. There have
been modest gains and a lot more needs to be done. But the Ebola
outbreak is grim reminder on the urgency to pay urgent attention to the
importance of biomedical research.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span>The basis for strengthening Africa's </span><a class="internallink" href="http://www.biomedcentral.com/bmcinthealthhumrights/supplements/10/S1" target="_blank"><span>health innovation systems</span></a><span>
already exists in national and regional institute of higher learning
across Africa. Much of this work focuses on finding cures for local
diseases. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span>The challenge, however, is that they have hardly received the
political attention that is commensurate with their public importance.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span>What appeared to be an isolated outbreak has quickly turned
into an economic concern across the continent. Unlike famines which have
tended to remain localised, public health emergencies respect no
borders. Long-term responses will need to build on regional and
continental capabilities.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span>Africa has learned through addressing famine that moving from
one crisis to another is untenable and is now focusing on long-term
agricultural transformation efforts. Similar thinking will need to be
applied to health research. The Ebola outbreak is not an episode; it is a
wake-up call for strategic political action.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span>The basis for bringing high-level political attention to the
challenge already exists. The African Union recently adopted a 10-year </span><a class="internallink" href="http://en.starafrica.com/news/african-union-heads-of-state-and-government-adopt-the-science-technology-and-innovation-strategy-for-africa.html" target="_blank"><span>Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy</span></a><span>.
The strategy envisages addressing critical challenges such as health
through infrastructure development, higher technical training, and
entrepreneurship.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span>One of the first measures that African leaders will need to
undertake is to be better informed about emerging trends that are likely
to undermine the economic gains they have so far made. Leaders in most
of the other parts of the world are supported by networks of scientific
advisers. The main task of such advisers is precisely to examine the
risks posed by events such Ebola outbreaks.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span>It is notable that despite the complex technical issues that
African presidents have to address, not a single country has a
dedicated office of science and technology advisory. A few have
individuals serving as advisors but they lack the legislative, financial
and administrative capacity to be of any value. Such advisory offices
will complement the support that is provided to presidents by chief
economic advisers.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span>Establishing such presidential science advisory office will
make it easier for African scientists and engineers to contribute their
expertise to human improvement. This can be done through channels such
as the </span><a class="internallink" href="http://www.nasaconline.org/" target="_blank"><span>Network of African Science Academies</span></a><span> (NASAC) which has been in existence since 2001.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span>NASAC includes 19 academies that can support high-level
decision-making but their effectiveness is limited by the absence of
presidential science and technology advisory offices. Science speaks.
But it cannot be heard unless political leaders are listening. They do
so not through experts whispering in their ears but by relying on robust
offices of science and technology advice.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span>The Ebola outbreak is a crisis of immense proportions. But it
is also an opportunity to facilitate building basic infrastructure,
putting in place public health systems and establishing offices of
science and technology advice. Those who continue to lead without the
help of scientific and technical advice can hardly see far. Doom awaits
them and their followers.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<em><a class="internallink" href="http://www.hks.harvard.edu/about/faculty-staff-directory/calestous-juma" target="_blank"><strong>Calestous Juma</strong></a><strong> is Professor of the Practice of International Development and Faculty Chair of the </strong><a class="internallink" href="https://exed.hks.harvard.edu/programs/ifed/overview.aspx" target="_blank"><strong>Innovation and Economic Development Program</strong></a><strong> at Harvard Kennedy School. During the 2014-2015 academic he will be Dr Martin Luther King Jr Visiting Professor at the </strong><a class="internallink" href="http://dusp.mit.edu/" target="_blank"><strong>Department of Urban Studies and Planning</strong></a><strong> at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is author of </strong><a class="internallink" href="http://belfercenter.ksg.harvard.edu/publication/20504/new_harvest.html" target="_blank"><strong>The New Harvest: Agricultural Innovation in Africa</strong></a><strong>.</strong></em></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong><em>Follow him on twitter: <a class="internallink" href="https://twitter.com/calestous" target="_blank">@<span class="u-linkComplex-target">calestous</span></a> and <a class="internallink" href="https://twitter.com/AfriCrop" target="_blank">@<span class="u-linkComplex-target">AfriCrop</span></a></em></strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<div style="float: left; width: 50px;">
<span style="background-color: orange;"><b>Source</b></span>:
</div>
<div style="float: left;">
Al Jazeera
</div>
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</tbody></table>
</div>
ABERANTE3 TVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03700086553281042099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3077317093664990352.post-12130756515256025262014-08-13T08:50:00.000-07:002014-08-13T09:39:36.770-07:00Ghana’s public tertiary institutions postpone reopening over Ebola.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: white;"> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bVtNwg2PJBU/U-uJMG2kU5I/AAAAAAAAGts/wCpd-8djN2w/s1600/Samuel-Okudzeto-Ablakwa.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bVtNwg2PJBU/U-uJMG2kU5I/AAAAAAAAGts/wCpd-8djN2w/s1600/Samuel-Okudzeto-Ablakwa.jpeg" /></a></span></div>
<span style="color: white;">Public tertiary institutions across Ghana will reopen later than expected for the commencement of the new academic year due to the Ebola scare, Deputy Minister of Education Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa said here on Tuesday.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: white;">Speaking on an Accra-based radio station, Ablakwa said that the decision was to ensure effective virus screening was in place before foreign students travelling from affected West African countries, including Nigeria, Liberia and Sierra Leone, arrived in the country.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: white;">He said: “It is very likely that reopening of all tertiary institutions will be postponed while the inter-ministerial task force put in place measures to avert any such case.</span></div>
<a name='more'></a><span style="color: white;"><br /></span>
<div>
<span style="color: white;">“We looked at the possibility of students coming from the affected countries in the sub-region and how we can put in place screening mechanisms to ensure that these students have not contracted the deadly Ebola virus and that they are not coming to spread the virus on our campuses.”</span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: white;">He said the closure would continue until surveillance and screening at entry border points had been strengthened.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: white;">The deputy minister also hinted that the Ghanaian government was going to put a freeze on international conferences and public gatherings.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: white;">He assured the public that the inter-ministerial committee set up by the government and health institutions were ready and on high alert to handle any outbreak and prevent the spread of the deadly virus.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: white;">The Ebola virus has so far claimed more than 1,000 lives, with about 1,800 people infected in Liberia, Guinea, Sierra Leone and Nigeria since the outbreak of the disease in February.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: white;">The current outbreak, the worst ever, has spread to other countries such as Nigeria in recent months and is transmitted among humans through bodily fluids.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: white;">In Ghana, a total of 37 suspected cases have been evaluated and all have proven negative.</span></div>
</div>
</div>
ABERANTE3 TVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03700086553281042099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3077317093664990352.post-44938263015210164772014-08-13T08:44:00.001-07:002014-08-13T08:44:27.120-07:00Historic Measures to Curb Cybercrime in Ghana.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Sxa13JEIqYc/U-uFpRogDOI/AAAAAAAAGtg/f1uGqBm9JYs/s1600/ghana.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Sxa13JEIqYc/U-uFpRogDOI/AAAAAAAAGtg/f1uGqBm9JYs/s1600/ghana.jpeg" height="208" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
GHANA has established the country’s historical Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) to curb cybercrime.
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The CERT, globally known as Computer Incident Response Team (CIRT)
and its portal, scheduled for launch on Friday this week, is hailed as a
certain and trusted way of safeguarding the country and its businesses
from cyber wars or attacks.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Sector Minister, Dr Edward Omane-Boamah, will launch the CERT, which
has been developed by the National Information Technology Agency (NITA),
the Ministry of Communications and other agencies.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The Director of Operations at NITA, Eric Akumiah, who disclosed this
to CAJ News in Accra, said by Friday, the Minister of Communications
would launch the CERT portal and a team to coordinate cyber incidences
and assist in resolving future incidences within the public and the
private sectors of the country.</div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
He explained the Ghanaian government was funding the scheme, which is
implemented by the International Multilateral Partnership Against Cyber
Threats (IMPACT), the United Nations-backed cyber security alliance and
partner of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Akumiah, who is also the CERT-GH Ghana Project Technical Point of
Contact, added that the project formed part of a co-operation agreement
between the government and the ITU which was concluded by Ghana’s
Minister of Communications during a forum in Geneva, Switzerland, last
year.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
He, however, noted that the coordinating centres of the CERT were yet
to be established but would be hosted temporarily at the Ghana
Multimedia Incubation Centre (GMIC).</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Akumiah was hopeful that by the end of October, towards December this
year, the CERT coordinating centres would be moved to the National Data
Centre.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The leader of the ITU delegation, Sagar Mahendram, explained that the
main purpose of the CERT was to defend cyber war, but it also creates
awareness about cybercrime.</div>
</div>
ABERANTE3 TVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03700086553281042099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3077317093664990352.post-15233718576625113552014-08-13T08:40:00.001-07:002014-08-13T08:40:53.586-07:00Ghana Lashes Foreign Media Over Bad Reporting.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Sxa13JEIqYc/U-uFpRogDOI/AAAAAAAAGtg/f1uGqBm9JYs/s1600/ghana.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Sxa13JEIqYc/U-uFpRogDOI/AAAAAAAAGtg/f1uGqBm9JYs/s1600/ghana.jpeg" height="208" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Ghana has expressed concern at the alleged misintepration of the
performance of the local economy by some international media houses.
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
It cited British news agency, Reuters, as well as Financial Times,
another British publication of misrepresenting the facts to create the
impression that the economy was the worst performing in the world,
following the country's decision to seek assistance from the
International Monetary Fund (IMF).</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The Minister of Communications, Edward Omane Boamah, said the
government was particularly unenthused by suggestions that the Ghana
cedi had fallen by 40 percent this year, insisting the cedi has fallen
by 22,9 percent instead.</div>
<a name='more'></a><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“According to the Bank of Ghana, the cedi traded at 2,34 against the
US dollar in January 2014, and as of Friday 1st August, 2014, it stood
at 3,035 to the US dollar, reflecting a cumulative depreciation of 22,9
percent over the period,” the statement clarified.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Government assured all journalists, both local and international,
that the government’s doors were always open for them to fact-check
their stories with relevant sector ministries before they publish them.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"This would do as much good for their reputation as it would the
quality of discourse that often relies on their stories," Boamah said.</div>
</div>
ABERANTE3 TVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03700086553281042099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3077317093664990352.post-81775870275371428562014-08-10T05:19:00.000-07:002014-08-10T05:19:05.476-07:00Ghana Presidential Commission of Inquiry not intimidated by FIFA's letter to GFA..<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aB45sfXYNv4/U-diPnj-D0I/AAAAAAAAGtA/fGTDZh65e-I/s1600/137313170_402401.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aB45sfXYNv4/U-diPnj-D0I/AAAAAAAAGtA/fGTDZh65e-I/s1600/137313170_402401.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The Presidential Commission of Inquiry tasked to look into Ghana Black
Stars’ Brazil 2014 FIFA World Cup campaign has stated its commitment to
carry out its mandate.<br />
This is in the wake of threats by the world’s football governing body to apply appropriate sanctions against the move.<br />
FIFA has warned that a Commission to investigate the Ghana Football
Association (GFA) and delve into issues bothering on the competence and
administration of football in the country is inappropriate.<br /><br />
This, it said, could lead to sanctions if the government goes ahead with the Commission’s terms of reference.<br /><br />
In a letter dated August 7 and signed by Deputy General Secretary of
FIFA, Markus Kattner, the body warned the country to stay clear of
interfering in the affairs of the GFA and to respect the autonomy of the
FA or risk sanctions.</div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
Interacting with the media in Kumasi over the weekend, Mr Moses
Foh-Amoaning, a member of the Commission and also a legal practitioner,
reacted to the letter saying: “As a sovereign nation, the Ghana
Government has the right to probe the Stars’ campaign in Brazil since it
is of public interest.”<br /><br />
“Under no circumstance would we be intimidated by anybody or power and would cross the bridge when we get there,” he said.<br /><br />
Mr Foh-Amoaning said all football-related activities could be subjected
to probe when necessary, citing how the Swizz Police once raided the
office of the FIFA President, Sepp Blatter, unannounced in order to gain
access to some vital documents in a matter which was under
investigation.<br /><br />
“My brothers, tell me of what became of that action by the police. Was
Switzerland sanctioned because of that investigation by the police?” he
quizzed.<br /><br />
The Commission, which starts sitting on August 11 and working within a
two-week period, has been tasked to look into the principles and
policies that underpin systems and structures employed by the FA in
running Ghana football.<br /><br />
They are mandated, amongst others, to look into events as pertained to
preparations, exit, treatment of fans, remuneration of players and
officials.<br /><br />
It is expected, therefore, to give an overview and recommendations per their findings at the close of work.<br /><br />
The GNA Sports gathered that the decision of government to probe the
Stars’ participation in the quadrennial championship forms part of
efforts to nip in the bud mistakes committed by stakeholders to ensure
successful future tournaments.<br /><br />
The Stars’ participation in the 2014 World Cup fiesta was beset with a
lot of challenges, ranging from players’ refusal to train ahead of the
Ghana-Portugal clash, an alleged assault by one of the players, sheer
disrespect for the technical team and maltreatment of fans and some
ambassadors who accompanied the team, bad flight arrangements to
remuneration.<br /><br />
These factors, according to some football analysts and fans, could be
the reason for the Stars’ early exit in the tournament, a development
that gave public concern and subsequent institution of an inquiry into
the issues for the benefit of the nation.<br /><br />
Mr Foh-Amoaning said the Commission would work within the stipulated regulations to ensure a successful exercise.<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong>Source: </strong>GNA </div>
</div>
ABERANTE3 TVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03700086553281042099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3077317093664990352.post-82051314630311759312014-08-10T05:06:00.002-07:002014-08-10T05:06:24.501-07:00Kweku Baako calls for ceasefire on discussions over IMF Ghana bailout.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FIg02p3iVxk/U-df771ZorI/AAAAAAAAGs0/4g6cNZUfY-Y/s1600/kweku+baako.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FIg02p3iVxk/U-df771ZorI/AAAAAAAAGs0/4g6cNZUfY-Y/s1600/kweku+baako.jpeg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The Editor-In-Chief of the New Crusading Guide newspaper, Abdul Malik
Kweku Baako is urging economic analysts and critics to hold their peace
on commenting further on Ghana’s move to seeking an IMF rescue package.<br />
According to him, all these discussions are premature, thinking, “we
should wait for the package that will come out of the negotiations
[sometime in September, this year].”<br />
Discussing the country’s posture for an International Monetary Fund
(IMF) loan to salvage the country from the doldrums on Joy FM’s Newsfile
Saturday, Mr. Baako maintained the real discussion would begin after
the deal has been reached in a couple of months to come.<br />
<br />
Then, the commitments needed from organized labour and other sectors of
the economy would come to play while expecting total discipline from
the country’s economic managers, he added.<br />
</div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
Furthermore, the newspaper manager argued that the IMF move, justified
the lack of fiscal and monetary discipline within the country’s
governance system.<br />
<br />
“The implication of what the president said to us is that we are going
to the IMF to get policy credibility because we had not been able,
ourselves, to generate that policy credibility by our own conduct and
management of the economic situation.<br />
<br />
Indicating, “It’s as simple as that. It’s an honest admission of
failure of the internal mechanisms that we had put in place and I like
that honesty because it helps. That honesty is a very important
political intangible that we all need to be able to build consensus and
to draw support from all other stakeholders that, look here – we are
indeed in crisis; we have an emergency on our hands; all hands on
board.”<br />
<br />
To Mr. Baako, the reality of the situation is terribly huge and “that’s
why we have gone for an IMF bailout at this critical moment.”<br />
<br />
Also commenting on the issue, a National Democratic Congress (NDC)
Communicator, Sam George cited five ways why the government opted for
the IMF rescue package.<br />
<br />
He outlined price fluctuations of cocoa and gold, grand famine from
development partners, long standing energy crisis, high salaries and
wages as well as over reliance on imports.<br />
<br />
Sam George explained that the dwindling prices of these commodities
could not be attributed to mismanagement by the Mahama-led
administration, stressing, the government of Ghana does not determine
the prices of gold and cocoa on the world market.<br />
<br />
Giving specifics, he said from 2002, the price of cocoa and gold
started rising steadily until about 2010 when it began to slow.<br />
<br />
He continued that the prices subsequently dropped in the last part of
2012. “So clearly, if you look at the international market pricing of
gold and cocoa; from 2002 to 2012; we had a 10-year continuous rise in
the prices of these two commodities.”<br />
<br />
Secondly, he noted “the fact that we’ve had what we call a grand famine
from our development partners. Our development partners have actually
not been meeting their obligations or their pledges to us in terms of
their grants.”<br />
<br />
On the long standing energy crisis, which has negatively impacted
production across the nation, he noted it would improve with the coming
of the MCA compact two and a $5 billion contribution from the World Bank
to tackle the energy sector in Africa.<br />
<br />
High salaries and wages paid to workers, he narrated, inched by GHs9
billion from GHs3 billion and an estimated GHs10.2 billion for this year
also necessitated the move to IMF. The amount, he said, represented a
56 per cent.<br />
<br />
He said the importation of rice, poultry, cooking oil and sugar in 2013, amounted to $1.5 billion.<br />
<br />
“These are the five cardinal issues the Economic Advisory Team
basically, has identified as the reasons why we are where we are and we
need to look at options that exist. And two of those options are the IMF
and our development partners,” Sam George said.<br />
<br />
He said the country went ‘begging’ because of Ghana’s lower middle income status.<br />
<br />
As part of its home-grown policies, Ghana intends to structurally
transform the economy by re-opening the Komenda Sugar factory while
establishing another one in northern Ghana.<br />
<br />
Manufacturing sugar locally, he mentioned would cut down on the amount
of import. He added that in 2012, $650 million worth of rice was
imported into the country and in 2013, the price lowered to $300
million, attributing the feat to government’s investment initiatives.<br />
<br />
The IMF offers support to countries in three ways – technical support,
loans to rebuild international reserves and help the stabilization of a
country’s currency and surveillance, in line with article 4 of its
mandate.<br />
</div>
ABERANTE3 TVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03700086553281042099noreply@blogger.com0